Copyright smh
Opposition to the establishment of wind turbines on country properties is mostly driven by jealousy and misinformed prejudice (“Tilting at turbines”, October 26). Farmers whose properties have been chosen to host the turbines are provided with an opportunity to “drought-proof” their operations in a practical way. Most sensible people accept the need for renewable energy, and of landholders to improve their situation by embracing wind farm projects. The major cause of community division from the projects is largely driven by those who believe they will not benefit financially from the technology. This attitude is both selfish and short-sighted. The wider community will certainly benefit from renewables despite the destructive opposition, which is generally going nowhere. Derrick Mason, Boorowa It seems that some country people are against wind turbines because of their ugliness. It suggests they love the aesthetics that nature brings with climate change - bushfires, droughts, floods and storms, all of which cause damage. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA) It is tragic that renewable energy should be dividing rural communities the way it is. Had the Nationals decided that wind farms were good for the bush, as they have with coal mines and gas fracking projects, none of this fracas would be happening – at least, not on such a grand scale. The irony is, it’s in rural areas where climate change is going to manifest itself the most, and where communities have the most to lose. They can look forward to more droughts, more floods and more bushfires – all of which will be costly to cover and increasingly difficult to insure against. I don’t for the life of me know why the future victims of a hotter planet would be doing the work of the companies that are heating it up. Ken Enderby, Concord Yes, wind farm turbines and power lines do spoil some those views across current landscapes, but the alternative of no power has got to be worse. And yes, power companies must consult and adjust the route of their structures so they don’t build them across farm houses and infrastructure. They can’t do it in the city, so why can they get away with it in the country? But renewables aren’t just a commercial activity, they are essential to replace our almost defunct power stations, which were allowed to become obsolete by successive (mainly Coalition) governments. So the alternative for the “anti-renewable” factions doesn’t exist. And you can pin the tail on the Coalition governments whose members are now fomenting all of this harassment. Their option of nuclear power is too far away and currently not viable based on current projects worldwide, so unless they come up with a magic bullet then they should shed their Luddite ideas and move on. They also need to lift their eyes and remember that commercial farming is required to feed us all. But in doing that, it also spoiled what were once beautiful natural landscapes and forests which fed a much smaller population. We need to move on and accept the need for change, but it needs to be done with proper consultation with those affected. Ian Ferrier, Long Jetty
